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About Certification

Why Earn an ASIS Certification?

  • Validate your security management expertise
  • Be globally recognized by your peers and industry
  • Get a competitive edge in the marketplace
  • Enhance your career and earnings potential
  • Broaden experience and training from law enforcement and military backgrounds
  • Gain personal satisfaction and professional achievement

You can reach new heights in professional security ​excellence with an ASIS board certification!

   
   

 For a quick reference, refer to the Certification FAQs.

Certification Portal

The online ASIS certification portal provides a user-friendly experience for both exam applicants and those recertifying.

ASIS members and those who have applied for or taken an ASIS certification exam, already have a login to the portal. Those new to ASIS should follow the prompts to set up your account.

IMPORTANT: Please click the Calculate Hours button before adding new CPE credits in order to ensure your CPE total hours are correct.

Choosing a Certification

Certified Protection Professional (CPPⓇ)

Board certification in security management. Demonstrates your knowledge and competency in seven key domains of security. Globally recognized as the standard of excellence for security management professionals.

Physical Security Professional (PSPⓇ)

Board certification in physical security. Demonstrates your knowledge in physical security assessments, application, design, and integration of physical security systems, and implementation of security measures.

Introducing the Associate Protection Professional (APP)

The Associate Protection Professional (APP) designation is intended for those with 1-4 years of security management experience. The exam will measure the professional’s knowledge of security management fundamentals, business operations, risk management, and response management. 

ASIS will beta test the new exam between 11 December and 15 January (prior to its official launch in 2019) to ensure the exam is performing properly and to set a passing score. If you are interested in applying to take the beta exam, there will be a two- to three-month delay in receiving the results. Because of this, we are offering a discount for those who apply to take the beta exam – only $100 for both members and nonmembers.

Reference Material

Reference Materials

The publications listed below comprise the recommended APP reference materials, which include five Standards and three volumes from the ASIS Protection of Assets. ASIS offers the following individually or in bundles.

Five Standards

  • Security Management Standard: Physical Asset Protection
  • Security and Resilience in Organizations and their​ Supply Chains - Requirements with Guidance
  • Investigations
  • Workplace Violence Prevention and Intervention Standard
  • Risk Assessment

Protection of Assets Volumes

  • Protection of Assets: Security Management
  • Protection of Assets: Crisis Management
  • Protection of Assets: Information Security

ASIS offers three pricing bundles for the APP:

APP Standards Bundle

Protection of Assets Bundle for the APP Certification

APP Complete Reference Set

Getting Started

Certification Handbook

Review all the policies and procedures you’ll need to follow to apply, study, and sit for each exam, including familiarizing yourself with the exam contents for each program.

Download the Handbook

Manual de Certificacion

Self-Assessment Guide

Assess your readiness for each of the certification programs. Use this tool to help you decide which exam is right for you and to set your study plans. *Note: Does not currently include APP certification.

Apply for Certification

Application Fees

Computer-Based Exam Fees for CPP, PCI and PSP
  • $300 ASIS members
  • $450 nonmembers
  • Retake fee: $200

Computer-Based Exam Fees for APP

  • $200 ASIS members
  • $350 nonmembers
  • Retake fee: $150

If your application is approved and you fail to schedule and take the exam within the two-year eligibility (candidacy) period, you will forfeit both the application and testing fee.

Applying for the CPP, PSP, PCI or APP exam

Complete the online application to apply for the CPP, PCI, PSP or APP.
(View step-by-step instructions)

You will need:
  • Your resume and an unofficial copy of your university transcript (if applicable).
  • The names and contact information for three references who can verify your work experience
  • The name of supervisor who can verify your employment
  • Payment for the application and exam fees

Paper and Pencil-Based Exams

ASIS offers paper and pencil based exams in Jamaica, Ecuador, Australia, Paraguay, and Panama. Consult the Certification Handbook for information.

Retaking the Exam

You may take the exam three times during your two-year eligibility year. There must be 90 days between each attempt. The fee to retake the exam is $200 for CPP, PCI and PSP. The fee for APP is $150.

If you fail the exam three times in your two-year eligibility period, you must reapply and pay the full fee.

If Your Application Is Denied

If your application is denied for any reason, you will receive a refund of your application fee minus a $100 nonrefundable processing fee.

See the Certification Handbook for submitting an appeal.

Qualified U.S. applicants may receive reimbursement for the certification exams through the G.I. Bill. An application is available at www.gibill.va.gov or call +1.888.442.4551 and request VA Form 22-1990.

Scheduling your exam

ASIS exams are offered year-round at Prometric test centers. You may schedule your exam online (preferred) or by phone.

Once ASIS approves your application, you will receive an email with instructions to schedule your exam.

Online Scheduling: www.prometric.com/asis

Scheduling by Phone: Prometric: +1.800.699.4975, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am - 8:00 pm (EST) and Saturday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm (EST)

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel or reschedule your exam date, Prometric will charge you a reschedule/cancellation fee. This fee will be assessed either at Prometric.com/ASIS if the candidate reschedules or cancels online, or via phone +1.800.699.4975 through Prometric’s customer service.

Learn more

Preparing for your Exam

Studying for your exam

We provide recommended reference materials and practice exams to help you prepare for your exam. The reference materials are used by our item writers to reference each correct answer on the exam, however you will need to apply your own expereience to answer correctly. Practice exams feature questions that appeared on the exam but are now retired. 

APP study materials

CPP study materials

PCI study materials

PSP study materials

Study with your peers

ASIS offers both in-person and online certification review courses to help you study for your exam:

CPP Review Courses

PSP Review Courses

Many ASIS Chapters also offer study groups. Contact the ASIS Chapter in your area for more information.

Taking the Exam

On Exam Day

Plan to arrive at the testing center 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment to allow time for check-in procedures. 

If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, Prometric Testing Center staff may choose not to seat you if doing so would disrupt other exam takers. If this occurs, your exam registration fees will not be refunded. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Check-in Procedures

Make sure you have the following when you arrive at the testing center:

  • Two forms of identification, one of which must be a government-issued photo ID (such as a passport or driver’s license).
  • Your first and last/surname on your approval letter from ASIS and identifications must match your ID EXACTLY. This includes abbreviated or hyphenated names.
  • Both ID forms must include your signature. (A Social Security card is not an acceptable form of identification.)
  • Prometric Confirmation Email and Number (from the email you get when you schedule your exam).
  • If you are testing outside your country of citizenship, you must present a valid passport. If you are testing in your country of citizenship, you may present a passport, driver’s license, national ID, or military ID. Expired IDs will not be accepted.

If you fail to bring the proper identification, you will not be allowed to take the exam and will forfeit the exam fee. 

 

Exam Results

You will receive a preliminary score once you have submitted your exam (those taking a paper and pencil exam will receive there results four to six weeks after the exam). Remember to request a copy of your score report before leaving the test center.

ASIS will email your official exam results approximately three weeks after the test date.

Consult the Certification Handbook for information on how the exams are scored.

“No Shows”

If you fail to cancel or reschedule your exam, you will be considered a “no show” and all testing fees will be forfeited. If an emergency prevents you from taking the exam, consult the Certification Handbook for instructions. 

Weather Emergencies 

If severe weather, natural disaster, or other such incidents make a testing center inaccessible or unsafe, your exam may be rescheduled or cancelled (at no cost to you). To check on your testing center, please check the Prometric site closure website.

Learn more

Recertify

When you carry the CPP, PCI, or PSP designation, you are telling the world that you have mastered the knowledge and skills needed to be a successful security management professional. To continue to hold your designation, you also promise to stay current in this field.

To stay current, you must recertify your designation every three years by completing 60 continuing professional education credits.

The Recertification Guide explains the policies and procedures for recertifying your CPP, PCI, and PSP designation.

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Meet a Certificant

"If you are someone who likes to help people, be part of a mission greater than yourself, and don't mind unique challenges, it's definitely the right path for you." - Anjali Sniadowski, CPP, PSP

Anjali Sniadowski, CPP, PSP admits that a security career may not be for everyone. She can list some downsides: irregular hours and hard work. But in her mind, the pluses outweigh any negatives.

Certificant Spotlights

ASIS salutes all certified practitioners for their commitment to professionalism and continued improvement. Spotlights, featured here and in Security Management magazine, offer personal insights from certified practitioners explaining why they opted to earn their board certification.

Check out all of their stories and learn about how an ASIS certification can help advance your career.

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